Improved shoe-fastening



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. C. HARRINGTON, OF FAIRPLAINS, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVED SHOE-FASTENING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,144, dated July 7, 1863.

To all whom it may concern,.-l

Be it known that I, E. C. HARRINGTON, of Fairplains, county of Montcalm, and State of Michigan, have invented an Improved Shoe- Fastening and I do hereby declare that the efollowing, taken in connection with the drawings, which accompany and form part of this speciiication, is a description ot' my invention suicient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

This invention relates to an improved manner of construction of a shoe, with reference to fastening the same upon the foot; and it consists in the application of elastic detachable fastening-bands in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side View of a shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 denotes a longitudinal section ot' one of the fastening-bands.

A represents the upper of the shoe thereof. As usually constructed the style of shoe shown (known as the Congress boot) has this opening B on one or both sides of the shoe filled with a gore of elastic or shirred goods, which is stitched upon and unites the edges a 3, and extends from the top of the shoe down to or nearly to the sole U. This piece serves to unite the edges and to allow the opening ot' the shoe to be distended for insertion ot' the foot, while by its retractive powers it draws the upper close upon and snugly to the foot;

but these pieces soon lose their elasticity, and., by the great strain upon them in puttingl on the shoe, become worn and defaced or rip away from the edges a 3, causing the shoe to fit loosely upon the foot and giving it a shab` by appearance. Instead of so applying thc elastic, I leave the space B on one side of the shoe open, (inserting at the lower part thereot', if necessary, a small gore, 0,) and apply across and to cover the same after the shoe is put on any suitable number of elastic bands D. Each band I provide with hooks d d, or other analogous contrivances, which hook on or fasten into opposite eyes or eyelet-holes, e e, the elasticity of the bands being such as to draw the eyes a b toward each other, and conne the shoe tightly upon the foot. By leaving space B open, the shoe can be much more readily put on the foot or drawn therefrom, and by using the bands D can be made to always t tightly. If the bands D become worn or inelastic, they can be easily replaced.

Instead of applying the bands to an opening at the side, the opening and bands may be applied to the top or other part ofthe shoe.

I claim- The elastic detachable bands D as applied to the shoe, substantially as described.

E. C. HARRINGTON. Vitnesses:

J. B. CROSBY, FRANCIS GOULD. 

